I was wondering if you would try this Sutherlandia and see how it reacts against Hiv? Has anyone ever commented on the results of taking this?

http://www.sutherlandia.org/index.html

Thanks

Megan

Response from Dr. Young

Personally, if I was HIV infected (and living in the US, as I do), I wouldn't base my treatment decisions on the extracts from Sutherlandia (an African plant).

To my knowledge, there have not been any prospective clinical trials that have actually shown benefit, though this is not to say that there might not be activity from one or more of the compounds found within this plant. I would direct your attention to the point that in the website that you cite, there are no publications nor scientific presentations about activity in HIV-infected persons, only case reports about individuals.

We have multiple medications that have passed the test of reproducible, scientifically reviewed studies-- these are our currently licensed antiretroviral medications. Yes, we need more, and novel approaches to therapy, and do encourage us to look systematically for new compounds (as do the major pharmaceutical companies). But for now, given the proven benefit of our current ARVs, I wouldn't be gambling my health on unproven products. BY

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.